When the Chargers practiced at Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday, Whitehurst wasn't wearing a headset and stood a few yards behind the sideline, away from McCoy.

Whitehurst, still involved, will wear an earpiece and listen to the coach's call.

But McCoy wants Rivers to get the call sooner. So Ken Whisenhunt, the offensive coordinator, will tell Rivers the play directly.

"I think the old way probably cost you a second or two," Whitehurst said. "I don’t know if it’ll be much faster, but it could be."

Say the Chargers give Rivers an extra two seconds on the 40-second play clock. Over 60 plays, that's two minutes of extra time.

Theoretically, the Chargers will be less prone to delay of game penalties and rushed snaps. They may be able to squeeze off more plays.

McCoy may opt to call plays, too. But he said Whisenhunt will be the main playcaller.

McCoy said he wants to be free to be the head coach.

Turner, the head coach from 2007-12, doubled as playcaller and offensive coordinator. Having Whitehurst as a filter was a form of quality control, Turner said last year.

“I took the play from Norv and gave it to Philip," Whitehurst said. "So, I had a big part in relaying the play. If I needed to clean a call up, I could. It didn’t happen very often. Norv being the head coach had a lot to worry about. I could help him out.

"I really enjoyed it."

Elsewhere on Thursday, when McCoy will work a game as a head coach for the first time, at any level, it'll be up to the strength coaches to police the sideline as "get back" coaches. The goal: prevent Chargers non-participants from being flagged 15 yards for going onto the field at the wrong time.

McCoy said the position coaches will be responsible for watching their players, and telling McCoy if something is awry.

The importance of tracking the action came home to roost last year in the fifth game, at New Orleans.

Turner and his coaches didn't see in time that left tackle Jared Gaither was hobbled by a groin injury. Gaither chose to stay in the game without telling anyone he was hurt. A Saints defender, Martez Wilson, ran by him and knocked the ball from Rivers, snuffing a Chargers comeback bid.

One play earlier, NBC game analyst Cris Collinsworth noticed what Chargers coaches had failed to see. He shared his observation with the Sunday Night Football audience.

“Gaither looks lame," Collinsworth said. "He’s going to have to get some help here or Wilson is going to get a sack to end this game. They have to realize now that Jared Gaither is really hurting. I don’t know if his back locked up or what."